Gas circulating separator



y 1969 F. KENNEDY 3,443,800

GAS CIRCULATING SEPARATOR Filed March 21, 1967 Sheet of 2 lNl/E/VT'OR FRANK/gE/V/VEDY A/forney F. KENNEDY 3,443,300

GAS C IRCULATI NG SEPARATOR May 13, 1969 Filed March'Zl, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 44 ,IIMIL'I Q v i U m; 45

l l l I I I 54 55 55 45 57 5a 59 42 5/ 52 53 44 54 55 6 40 uvvnvron FRANK KENNEDY By M AI/arney United States Patent 3,443,800 GAS CIRCULATING SEPARATOR Frank Kennedy, .Iohnstown, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 624,937 Int. Cl. F27d /00; F27]: 11/10 U.S. Cl. 263-47 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A separator for use between stacked coils of steel strip within an annealing cover, the separator permitting circulation of atmosphere gas. The separator is fabricated from a plurality of top and bottom assemblies each made of steel plate with a plurality of standard channels welded thereto at the end of their flanges. A space is provided between the plates of the sections to permit welding of the plates of one assembly to a channel of another assembly.

This invention relates to a gas circulating separator and more particularly to separators which are provided between stacked coils of steel within an inner cover of a box annealing furnace. In such furnaces, atmosphere gas is circulated throughout the stacked coils within the inner cover. Many types of separators are used for this purpose, but each has some disadvantage. In some instances it is necessary to use other than standard items of manufacture and/or the various items making up the separator are so arranged that it is difficult to make the required welds.

it is therefore an object of my invention to provide a separator which provides uniform gas passage between the coil contacting plate surfaces and is made from flat plates and standard structural connecting members.

Another object is to provide such a separator which has maximum strength by reason of its construction and because of the ease with which full length radial welds can be made to connect the parts.

A further object is to provide such a separator which has the Welds located in positions which will not restrict normal thermal expansion.

Still another object is to provide such a separator which is so constructed as to enable uniform temperature changes to all elements of the separator and consequent uniform heating to the coils stacked thereon.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of my separator with parts broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a partial end view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing a second embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial end view of FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates the top surface of the separator and numeral 4 the bottom surface thereof. The separator is provided with the usual central opening 6 through which the atmospheric gases pass. The separator includes four top assemblies 8, each including a top plate '10 and three generally radial members 12, 1'4 and '16. While it is preferred that the members 12, 14 and 16 be U-shaped channels as shown, it is only necessary that these members include a vertical leg and a horizontal leg. The members 12, 14 and 16 are welded to the top plate by means of welds .18 extending between the top of the legs of the channels and the bottom of the plate 10 for the full length of the channels. The separator also includes four bottom assemblies 20, each of which has the same construction as the top assembly and includes a bottom plate 22 and "ice generally radial channels 24, 26 and 28 connected to the plate 2 2 by means of welds 30'.

A space 32 is provided between adjacent plates 10 and a space '34 between adjacent plates 22. Full length welds '36, in each space 32, connect the top plate '10 to channel 26 of the bottom assembly. In like manner welds 38 in each space 34 connect plate 22 to channel 14 of the top assembly. It will be seen that the spaces 32 and 34 are in different vertical planes.

The separator is constructed from four assemblies 8 and four assemblies 20. These are identical and are made by welding three channels to each of eight plates. 'Four top assemblies 8 are then placed on four bottom assemblies 20 in the position shown in FIGURE 1 and welds 36 are made between the plates '10 and channels 26 along the full length thereof. The separator is then inverted and welds 38 made along the full length of plates 22 and channels 14. It will be seen that all the welds are made in readily accessible locations so that they can be completed rapidly and efficiently. It will also be seen that the legs of the channels can flex to accommodate differences in heating rates between top and bottom plate segments and that compensation for expansion and contraction is also further provided for by the spaces 32 and 34. While it is preferred to use standard steel channels for the separating members other shapes may be used so long as they have a vertical leg or side surface and a horizontal leg or surface and permit circulation of the atmosphere. For example, hollow rectangular tubes may be used. The number of top and bottom assemblies may also be varied.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 differs from that of FIGURES l and 2 in that it includes a single bottom assembly instead of a plurality of assemblies. A circular plate 40 has three equally spaced channels 42, 44 and 46 welded thereto in each quadrant as shown. Four top assemblies 48 are provided as in the first embodiment. Each top assembly includes a plate 50 and nine channels 51 to 5-9 welded thereto in generally the same manner as in the first embodiment. A space 60 is provided between adjacent assemblies 48 and the top and bottom assemblies are connected by welds 62 in this space as in the first embodiment. In addition, the assemblies are connected by means of welds 64 between plates 50 and the ends of the webs of channels 44 and 46 and by means of welds 66 between plate 40 and the sides of channels '52, and 58 for a short distance adjacent their outer ends. For the sake of clarity only the welds made during final assembly are shown in the broken away portions of FIGURE 3.

Of course, the number of plates and channels may vary in both embodiments and the welds in each assembly may be continuous or discontinuous as required for strength.

While two embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A gas circulating separator having a central vertical opening and adapted to support individual coils of a vertical pile of coils being heat treated; which comprises top plate means extending from said central opening to the outer periphery of said separator and providing a substantially horizontal top surface, a plurality of generally radial U-shaped members each having a horizontal top side secured to the underside of said top plate means and downwardly extending legs, bottom plate means ex tending from said central opening to the outer periphery of said separator and providing a substantially horizontal bottom surface, a plurality of generally radial U-shaped members each having a horizontal bottom side secured to the top side of said bottom plate means and upwardly extending legs, the said legs all having substantially the same length, welds connecting the top plate means to the radial members attached to the bottom plate means, and welds connecting the bottom plate means to the radial members attached to the top plate means, at least one of the said plate means including a plurality of segments having generally radial edges.

2. A gas circulating separator having a central vertical opening and adapted to support individual coils of a vertical pile of coils being heat treated, which comprises top plate means extending from said central opening to the outer periphery of said se arator and providing a substantially horizontal top surface, a plurality of generally radial members each having a horizontal top side secured to the underside of said top plate means and a generally vertical side surface, bottom plate means extending from said central opening to the outer periphery of said separator and providing a substantially horizontal bottom surface, a plurality of generally radial members each having a horizontal bottom side secured to the top side of said bottom plate means and a generally vertical side surface, the said generally vertical side surfaces all having substantially the same vertical height, means connecting the top plate means to the radial members attached to the bottom plate means, and means connecting the bottom plate means to the radial members attached to the top plate means, one of the said plate means including a plurality of segments having generally radial edges, a space between adjacent segments of said one of said plate means, one of the radial members of the other plate means spanning each of said spaces, and welds in each of said spaces connecting said plate segments to said associated spanning radial member.

3. A gas circulating separator according to claim 2 in which said radial members are 'U-shaped with generally vertical legs forming said side surfaces, and the ends of the vertical legs are welded to the associated plates.

4. A gas circulating separator according to claim 2 in which the other of said plate means includes a plurality of segments having generally radial edges, a space between adajcent segments of said other of said plate means in different vertical planes than the said first spaces, one of the radial members of said one of said plate means spanning each of said second spaces, and welds in each of said second spaces connecting said plate segments of said other of said plate means to the associated spanning radial member.

' 5. A gas circulating separator according to claim 4 in which said radial members are U-shaped with generally vertical legs forming said side surfaces, and the ends of the vertical legs are welded to the associated plates.

6. A gas circulating separator having a central vertical opening and adapted to support individual coils of a vertical pile of coils being heat treated; which comprises top plate means extending from said central opening to the outer periphery of said separator and providing a substantially horizontal top surface, a plurality of generally radial members each having a horizontal top side secured to the underside of said top plate means and at least one downwardly extending leg having a horizontal thickness substantially less than the width of said horizontal top side, bottom plate means extending from said central opening to the outer periphery of said separator and providing a substantially horizontal bottom surface, a plurality of generally radial members each having a horizontal bottom side secured to the top side of said bottom plate plate means at least one upwardly extending leg having a horizontal thickness substantially less than the width of said horizontal bottom side, the said legs all having substantially the same length, means connecting References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,530 4/1961 Menough. 3,352,551 11/1967 Kennedy et a1.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

E. G. FAVORS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 2665 

